Privatization of car testing gets mixed reaction

Privatization of car testing gets mixed reaction

JAKARTA (JP): City councilors and operators of public transit
vehicles voiced mixed opinions about the city administration's
plan to privatize vehicle testing.

The city administration has appointed two private firms -- PT
Nakia and PT SAWU -- to handle vehicle tests.

Nakia will operate in Kalideres, West Jakarta, to serve owners
of public transit vehicles from West Jakarta and North Jakarta,
while PT SAWU will operate in Srengseng Sawah, South Jakarta, to
serve those from that mayoralty and the Central Jakarta
mayoralty.

PT SAWU will use an integrated computerized system, whose
construction is scheduled to be completed in November.
The system will be able to perform nine tests for roadworthiness
within 15 minutes, according to the company's technical manager.

Councilor Aliwongso Halomoan Sinaga of Commission D on
transportation said he fully supported the plan, especially
because the quality of the present testing system was poor and
the service inadequate.

"You can see for yourself that many vehicles on the streets
are in fact not roadworthy. This is proof that the present
quality of testing needs improvement," Aliwongso said.

Privatization is an appropriate measure to improve that
quality, Aliwongso added.

Another city councilor, Sumekar Kartawijaya, who is also
deputy chairman of the commission, however, warned that the
legality of privatizing the testing should be determined before
the facilities open.

Second, the city administration must ensure that after a
vehicle is certified as passing roadworthiness tests, it will not
be deliberately altered, Sumekar said.

"For instance, prior to the tests, vehicle owners could
replace worn out tires with new ones. After the tests, the driver
could take off the new tires and put back on the bald tires,"
Sumekar explained.

It will be necessary for the city administration to institute
checks on public transit vehicles which have been newly
certified, Sumekar said.

"What matters is the persons who are involved in the tests
rather than the technology used to perform the tests," Sumekar
said.

Commenting on the planned privatization, Siswadi, an
administration officer in charge of vehicle testing for PT
Kopaja, which operates green minibuses, said he wondered why the
government could not perform the tests itself.

Siswadi said he hoped that with the new computerized system
the testing fees can be reduced.

Hamim Busro, the public relations manager of the state-owned
PPD which operates wide-bodied buses, said privatization of the
services would have no impact on his company because PPD has its
own vehicle testing and repair center in Narogong, Bekasi.

Hamim said PPD plans to modernize the center and operate it
commercially. (arf)